Jamaica J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

We're guessing Saturday's $300,000 Jamaica H. (G1) for three-year-olds will

be contested on a course less than firm over Belmont's inner turf. Not that it

will make a huge difference as most of the main players already have decent form

in similar conditions, but cut in the ground typically makes it harder for the

speed to hang on.

Our choice to post the mild upset is the aptly-named GRASSY (El Prado [Ire]),

who makes his stakes debut for Christophe Clement. Third in his debut on May 30,

the gray subsequently came back to win his maiden in fine style and a

first-level allowance at Saratoga on soft turf. The colt is undoubtedly moving

in the right direction and need not have to improve a whole lot to take down the

two favorites.

The regally-bred COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm Cat) took a minor stakes over this

course in July and followed up with a score in the National Museum of Racing Hall

of Fame S. (G2). We wonder, however, whether the speedy colt will be able to

settle far enough off what shapes up to be a contested early pace. He's a hard

horse to get by in the stretch and should be tough as nails here.

TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score) prevailed in the Secretariat S. (G1) last

time over a course more soaked than the official designation of "good" would

suggest. The early pace was incredibly pokey, and one would have thought Take

the Points' come-home time would have been more stellar. Instead, he earned a

modest 87 BRIS Late Pace rating. Having dropped his prior two grass attempts,

the gray seems a bit overrated in our eyes.

STRAIGHT STORY (Giant's Causeway) lost two heartbreakers earlier this year in

the Virginia Derby (G2) and Colonial Turf Cup (G2), and regressed off those

strong efforts when earning lower BRIS Speed ratings in last two. We see his

Hall of Fame reversal as a clear bounce, and last time he ran into Banrock (Go

for Gin), a buzzsaw among turf-loving New York-breds. We fear the course

condition and presence of other speed will conspire to hurt this front runner.

The rest of the field all have a bit of speed and a lot of class questions to

answer. BOOTS AHEAD (Storm Boot) appears the best of the trio, having rallied

from off the pace to take the Restoration S. at Monmouth Park last out. CHAPIN

BEACH (Dynaformer) and MR SANDMAN (GB) (Dashing Blade), both eligible for an

entry-level allowance, would be surprises.